US Customs sucks

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by CatawbaGSD on 07 March 2009 - 22:03

I have imported Shepherds 3 times now. 2 of them at JFK and now 1, yesterday at Atlanta. Atlanta sucks. The woman at customs harrassed me and made me get a broker, who isn't cheap an extra $200. They questioned me and held my puppy up for 3 hours..I understand that they are trying to weed out the puppy mills and drug traffikers and such. Puppy Mills don't spend $1400 on a puppy and shipping. They use worthless American Shepherds. The woman flat out told me she didnt trust me that I wasn't a breeder. I am not a breeder, I just have a couple of Shepherds and enjoy training and showing them. I think the US Customs needs some guidlines because this woman must have thrown her book in the garbage. Also I am an ex US Marine and made her aware of that, that I have done more for our country than she ever will. Just trying to throw some happiness her way. I was told by the guy at Lufthansa that she has a bug you know where and she is a famous WITCH at the Atlanta Customs office. I was also told by the friendly guy at Lufthansa that if I were to fly over to Germany and fly back with my puppy, you aren't held up as much. Anyone have experience with this as I am to get a new female in May. Any info would help. It would actually be cheaper too as the airline (Lufthansa) is having some great deals. The flight I am about to schedule will cost about $400 US. Does anyone also know how much they would charge for my puppy as checked cargo or luggage? Thanks

by sjd on 07 March 2009 - 22:03

It is not just at Atlanta. I have determined that the first requirement to be a U.S. Customs officer is that you have to flunk out of Police Acadamy. Customs in Detroit would not get up off their dead backsides to see Christ walk on water. In Minneapolis, you cannot clear during the time from 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. . That is when they park their backends in a chair, put their feet up on the desk and watch Oprah. In December we imported a dog and when I got to Customs, that is where I found the officer. Sitting on his butt behind a desk with his feet up watching Oprah. He couldn't even muster up the energy to get up and wait on me. He just grumbled from his chair-"What do you need?" Then just bitched about the fact that the pup was under six months of age and couldn't have a rabies shot because he was too young. I wonder who it is that mandates the law that says they must have the shot in the first place? Every one of them has the Little Napoleon Syndrome! If you haven't got a bad taste in your mouth with government employees before, you sure will after dealing with Customs. They forget that the whole world is not drug lords and terrorists. There are some good people left and the sad part is, they are the ones who are paying their salaries

by s_vargas on 08 March 2009 - 00:03

I imported a female from Germany last year and she came to me via San Francisco Intl Airport. I did have a little issue with the dog not having her rabies. BTW she was only 8 weeks old. I had to sign a sworm affidavit stating that the dog would remain "quaranteened" (sp) at my residence until she was old enough to have her rabies shot. It also stated that I could not sell her prior to her getting the rabies shot.

I had no intention of selling her so I thought nothing of it until one day my local animal control came to my residence asking to see my female. They said that they had been notified by US Customs to come over and make sure I was still in possession of the dog. Other than that it all went smooth.

Shawn

by animules on 08 March 2009 - 00:03

That may be true but DON"T tell them that until AFTER you get your dog released! LOL

by katjo74 on 08 March 2009 - 03:03

I had the same sort of problems at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport shipping in a puppy from Germany November 2007. The puppy being shipped was for our family, plain and simple-a 9 week old puppy cannot breed and may not ever make it to even remotely be breed-worthy. The guy in Customs informed us that his shift had ended 15 minutes prior to waiting on us but he was still having to do things, so I figured we were in for it, and we were. He asked me if the dog was for resale-I stated simply, "No, he's not." He then went and did some online research, found an old no-longer-in-use website link from years ago, showed it to me where I'd bred some litters, and began a rant about me lying to a federal officer, how he KNEW the puppy I was getting was for resale because broker-people like myself ship these pups from other countries then sell them for big bucks in the US, etc. I went white from going into utter shock. He was telling us because I had LIED about the dog being for resale because the Customs guy knew I would sell the pup for a profit (??), that I would have to return 2hrs back home, and make the 2hr trip BACK in the morning, pay a broker to get my puppy. I've never been a dog broker nor professional importer like he implied--this was my 2nd time ever importing direct and I was doing it for myself. Even our children were shocked at what we were going thru-they'd been all happy because our months of waiting was finally ending in reality. My husband talked to the guy (I couldn't talk anymore-I was just shaking) and swore to him that the puppy was for our family enjoyment because we loved the kennel he came from (Kirschental) and had lost a prior puppy we'd bought in a totally unexpected tragedy-this puppy we purchased was to replace the one we lost. The customs guy looked at our kids, looked at us, shook his head, but signed off on my paperwork so I could get my puppy that evening.
When we went back to Delta's cargo area, they guys waiting to give us our puppy could tell something had went drastically wrong. They asked my husband if I was ok and what had happened so he told them the story. The guys at Delta Cargo were utterly shocked to hear what we were put thru, and one guy even went and brought the crate with my puppy right up to me to get him since I'd done been put thru more than enough. When I pulled my puppy out of his crate, I hugged him tight and cried, then handed him to our children-he was well worth the trouble.
This male puppy whom the Custom's guy was so sure we would be reselling is STILL our family's pride & joy here at turning 18 mos old. He's a major part of our lives and enjoys romping with our kids and playing ball. Guess the Customs fella was WRONG about the puppy "for resale" thing after all. And, I've not imported another dog/puppy since then, either-it's just not something I do every year. I wouldn't say I that I wouldn't ever do it again, but I would have to think about it hard before doing it due to this experience. It was a bit out of hand to say the least.

by HANS K9 on 08 March 2009 - 04:03

now you made me worry bc soon I should go to Atlanta Ga to pick my pups , they are coming from Czech and Belgium !

by katjo74 on 08 March 2009 - 06:03

Well, be prepared financially to pay a broker to get your pups at the airport/Customs just in case you need it, and don't tell a blatant lie that the Custom's guy/woman can check up and find out otherwise.

If they ask you if you're a breeder/seller and you say no and they check online and find where you've advertised pups in the past or have a website, you're busted. I can't tell you what they'd do in such a case. I'd not volunteer any more info than necessary and go prepared just in case they make you use a broker. There's no set amount for brokers to want to charge a person-could be real cheap, could be hundreds (I don't think more than $300). The most I've heard asked by a broker was $240 and that was Florida.

Seems like you've really been trying to get pups alot around here lately, Hans. Maybe it will work out for you.

Hans, why are you giving away 4 girl puppies? I saw the message you posted about it. What's the story about them-why no papers? Just curious. Hope that works out, too.

by CatawbaGSD on 08 March 2009 - 13:03

Hans, Call a broker ahead of time, you are going to need it. Plus they will see your website in their database. Atlanta I have been told by some friends is the worst when it comes to clearing pups. It has to do with the huge amounts of puppy mills and dog fighting that go on in Georgia. I have cleared in NY and it is nothing compared to Atlanta but that was years ago. next time I will be flying in with my puppy from Frankfort, it's cheaper and less harrasment

by ShelleyR on 08 March 2009 - 13:03

Having imported a LOT of dogs over the years, I have never had a problem with US Customs at any airport. Avg time at the windows, 5 min. Maybe I've just been lucky.
SS

by SKI on 08 March 2009 - 14:03

As stated on a few threads and sites, they are starting to crack down on the rule that have been in place for a few years, but have not been followed consistently.

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